High School Auto shop Restoring 1954 WD 45

Hello gentlemen I am a high school auto shop teacher in New Jersey. It is my second year as a teacher and i thought it would be a fun project for my students to rebuild an old tractor. So last spring a neighbor down the road had an old WD sitting in the field and i asked him what was wrong he said it was locked up and if i wanted it it was mine. So i took it home tore the head off and eventually with a couple tricks i got the engine to free up and running later that week. The point of this post is really to get some insight and suggestions on what i should or should not do when working on this project. The students will be doing 90% of the work i am just their as a guide. Any help would be appriciated
 
If end value is a consideration it is tough to come out OK on such projects. Half baked "rebuilds" abound and are not bringing much money these days. However correctly operating and appearing tractors will still bring decent money. A good thing is that both good information and restoration parts are available, both used and new production. Get the systems working right so it works as it should, engine, hydraulics, brakes, charging system etc. Then run it a while PRIOR to painting so you can find and fix leaks and squeaks. Too many people paint first and fix problems later. Also paint it the correct color which is commonly call #1 Persian orange or 60080 on PPG Ditzler's color charts. Then put the right decals on it. Most who are willing to pay good money are particular about the tractor operating and appearing correct. Lastly it is best to not keep track of what you have in it, just fix it up and take pride in what you and the kids have done. That way you can use it or sell it without reservation. Have fun!
 
First off I'll tell you I hate the term restore since most never do a true restore as in bring it back to what it was when it rolled out of the factory. So do you want to restore it or just fix it up.
I just fix it up maybe do an engine rebuild check an service the transmission and a paint job.
Now if your doing a true restore then each and every part need to go back to what it was when new and that can/will add up to a good bit more then it is worth as for selling
 

At this point, I doubt that you actually "know" what is good and what is not on this tractor ( yet)..

GET a Manual and search for Parts manuals, etc.

If possible, once you have gone over the tractor, USE it ( IN the field) and KNOW just how it works and how it is supposed to work...VERY Important..!

Put it on some good heavy working loads and see if it "Pops" out of 2nd or 3rd gear..(a sign of heavy wear) and need for re-building..

Once you have a pretty decent idea how the tractor worked, you can start to figure what it will need to bring it back to the level of usefulness that you desire.

Maybe it WON't need a new Clutch and Pressure Plate ( the WD-45 already has the better 9 spring pressure plate).

There are 2 things I can tell you about them...the PTO gearbox (under the tractor) should ( MUST) be Magnafluxed to see if it is sound or failing..

Not that they fail a lot, just that it is very advisable to check that ( assuming the PTO works now)..

Another is the possibility that you will see some signs of water on the oil Dipstick ( or milky oil in the engine)..

That is possible feom a lower O-ring leaking around the cylinder sleeves, OR..could be a cracked web between either of the 2 cylinder pairs..

That is really not any Big Deal, don't let it scare ya..most do it..! I had mine Pined and welded, but IF yours shows any, it will be fine and not leak when you get done. I can tell you how..

I like to install the early D-17 Piston/Sleeve Kit..it has more compression than original ( adds power), but causes no trouble ( and costs the same.!

The ONLY Exhaust Muffler you should consider is a "NELSON" muffler..that is the only one that actually "Sounds" correct..

Several places have repop parts for these AC's.."Sandy Lake Imp", here in YT also.

At least, the AC's are not as pricey to rebuild/overhaul/restore as some other brands, are a handy size and have plenty of power..
 

One way to go about selling one is to do a NICE job on it, then advertise that it is being "Raffled-off" to benefit your group or cause..
 
Don't know if I can add much but it is great you can do this with the students. Many times I have seen deadbeat classes where they get nothing out of it. The wd was a good tractor check the block some were know to crack and leak down low!!!
 
Thanks guys I do plan on to just rebuild it and not sell it. It really comes down to the students getting something out of the project and learning the basics. The school I teach at is suburban and half my students have never seen something like this. I just want something they can be proud of. As for running the tractor after I rebuilt it I brush hogged 25 acres and plowed 3 acres with it. The tractor runs strong and does not smoke just has some small issues, Worn components and such.
 
I would take a good look at your class objectives and your student's expectations. If your students sign up for auto shop, will working on an old piece of "industrial/farm machinery" four times as old as they are excite them much or meet many of their objectives? Fixing an old tractor might work very well in a rural high school, but your suburban students might identify more with a thirty year old Ford Mustang or even a riding lawn mower than with a sixty year old farm tractor.
 
The WD had a shorter stroke than the WD-45 so putting D-17 pistons in a WD engine will lower the
compression. You have to keep the 2" stroke and 2 1/2" stroke pistons with the right crankshaft. As
has been said, block cracks can be fixed. Before running it much drain any water in the
transmission out the 3, yes, 3 plugs in the bottom of the trans and rear end. Get reprint shop or
repair manual and a parts manual is handy. If the boot on the shift lever is bad you probably have
water in the transmission. Remove the pans on the final drives, some have never been off for an oil
change. Check level of hydraulic system. Ask questions here.
 
SS55 The objectives of my students are to gain a basic understanding of tools, ignition systems, Carburetion, precision engine measurement,Good work habits, powertrain, Etc. I feel that this old industrial/ farm equipment is perfect for the job, no body panels to get in the way everything is wide open for easy access. sure i would love to bring in an old classic car for the kids to work on but i am just a teacher i am def not rich.
 
I agree with you as to basic engines all work the same. Shoot I started learning how to work on things with a simple push mower and found that once I knew how it worked that an engine is an engine as long as it is gas that is. Diesels well they tend to need more special tools to work on them.

In all my many years of working on engines I have yet to so much as have one single hour of shop training and learned what I know by the road of hard knocks and skinned knuckles
 
sounds great,
glad to see a teacher have the students do something hands on productive in class,

just thinking outside the box, you might locate some-type period snap-couple implement to attach to the tractor, if you could still find one, as most have gone to the scrapper.

part of their training might include an understanding, not all tractor company's used the 3 pt hitch, am fairly sure most students who live on a farm today, have never seen other tractor hitches beside the 3 pt hitch.

also include a demonstration on how the Farmall 2 point hitch worked.

in the old days you could be hooked to the plows on a WD45 or Farmall and be plowing before someone else could get their 3pt plow hooked up.

Please show before and after pictures of their project.

however, what a major invention to the tractor world was Harry Ferguson 3 point hitch system.
 
While your students may not relate to a tractor, it is a great way to learn to use the basic tools and process, which is your goal. We'd love to see regular progress reports with pictures.
 
Sounds like a great project. Years from now
some students will remember "some old
tractor" and some will remember all the bolt
torque values.

I'm not an AC expert. Engine tear down,
clean, inspect, reassemble and run would be
the least I would do. Then expand from
there.
 

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